The Science

Scientific Research

Shark Shield’s scientifically proven and independently tested technology, nothing is more effective. It’s a change in the way we manage human and shark interactions. Shark Shield turns sharks away so you can experience more. The ocean becomes your playground.

For more information on our rigorous scientific process, please review the published scientific and independent research on Shark Shield below, and you can also download and view the Shark Shield White Paper which discusses the history behind electronic shark deterrents.

The study analyzed 322 encounters involving 41 individual white sharks, ranging from 2m to 4m long. Upon first encounter with a Shark Shield, all approaching great white sharks were effectively deterred, staying an average of 1.3m away from a baited canister with the device attached.

After multiple approaches, individual great white sharks came an average of 12cm closer on each successive approach. Only one great white shark came into contact with the bait in the presence of an active Shark Shield, and only after multiple approaches. The interaction in question simply involved a bump of the bait canister rather than a full bite. In contrast, bites were common during control trials.

For detailed information on this peer reviewed research you can download and read full research paper from PLOS ONE here

Shark Shield effectively deterred sharks from interacting with the bait

Shark Shield does not attract sharks

FACT 2

Shark Shield effectively reduces the probability of shark attack

THE STUDY

Estimating the probability of a shark attack when using an electric repellent

C F Smit, Department of Statistics, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, 0002, South Africa and V Peddemors, Department of Zoology, University of Durban-Westville, Durban, 4000 South Africa

Shark Shield does not attract sharks

This research by Collins proves that Shark Shield’s electrical impulses do not attract sharks: “It is true that the electroreceptive system is extremely sensitive (in the µV range). However, in practical terms and this has been born out in many behavioral tests, the electroreceptive system is a relatively short distance sense often working in the 30-60cm range. Since these animals use this sense to detect the presence of living prey items that may not be otherwise detected (i.e. under the substrate), they are really working at their detection limits. Therefore, although theoretically the Ampullae of Lorenzini can detect very low strength electric fields, they do not use them to track animate objects over these long distances.